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Irish Independent
3 days ago
- General
- Irish Independent
‘The level of red tape is unbelievable' – anger as EU rules on birds derail 50-metre path in Malahide
The path, for which funding was provided by Fingal County Council in 2023, was to connect the Seabury housing estate to the sports club and a nearby pre-school. It would have provided a short active travel alternative to the current route, which involves driving nearly 2 kilometres to access the sporting facility. But at yesterday's Fingal County Council meeting of the Howth/Malahide Area Committee, Therese Casey, Executive Parks and Landscape Officer at Fingal County Council, said the path was being held up by EU rules on protecting bird habitat. Reading from a council statement, she said: 'The proposed site for the walkway development is an important feeding site for several bird species associated with the Malahide Estuary Special Protection Area (SPA)'. The Malahide Estuary SPA contains internationally important populations of Light-bellied Brent Geese and Black-tailed Godwits, among other species. An appropriate assessment screening taken over the winter months found that significant impacts to the site 'cannot be excluded beyond a reasonable scientific doubt', according to the council. 'Therefore, a Stage 2 Natura impact assessment and appropriate mitigation is required should this project proceed.' Any council project requiring this check needs to be submitted to An Bord Pleanála (ABP), the council statement added. "The council is legally obliged to safeguard these feeding sites for migratory birds associated with SPAs under the EU Birds Directive. 'Developing a pathway in a key feeding site that is likely to cause ongoing disturbance conflicts with that legal requirement and poses a significant hurdle for obtaining planning permission for this project from ABP.' ADVERTISEMENT Learn more Fianna Fáil councillor Eoghan O'Brien said he was 'really disappointed' by the statement. Locals already access the rugby club via this route, but the existing surface is unsuitable for those with mobility issues and after wet weather, he said. 'I don't have the measurements, but we're talking about roughly 30 to 50 metres of some sort of safe surface. I'm not even talking about going in with a concrete path,' he said. Cathal Haughey, another local councillor, said he was 'shocked' by the response. 'If we went back to the rugby club with that, I don't know how you'd keep a straight face … the level of red tape is unbelievable,' he said. 'It sounds like it's not going to happen now, which just seems outrageous … it goes against everything that the council is trying to do regarding active travel.' He said it would be helpful for the topic to be brought back up in a future session, so councillors could 'get our heads around it more'. Ms Coffey said she understood the frustration of the elected members and rugby club, but that her 'hands were tied' in relation to this, as the legislation on protecting birds is clear. She proposed a meeting between councillors and the council's biodiversity team in the coming weeks to work out a compromise.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Donald Trump Jr. Accused Of Killing Protected Bird During Illegal Hunt
Donald Trump Jr. has been accused of killing a protected duck while on a hunt in Italy that may not have even been legal to begin with. Italian officials began speaking out about the incident Tuesday after obtaining hunting footage produced for an outdoor lifestyle brand Trump co-founded that was taken at the Venice Lagoon. 'This is actually a rather uncommon duck for the area. Not even sure what it is in English, but incredible shoot,' he can be heard saying in the video as he singles out a vibrant orange bird among the several he shot down. Speaking with the Italian press, Andrea Zanoni, a regional councillor in Italy's Veneto region, identified the bird as the 'protected' ruddy shelduck. 'It is a species protected throughout Europe by the EU Birds Directive and by Italian law, which criminalizes its killing and possession,' Zanoni said, as translated into English. There's also no possibility that Trump was legally permitted to hunt in Italy, Zanoni added. 'Like any foreigner, in Italy he was not allowed to hunt by law,' Zanoni said. 'In fact, in our country, only residents of one of the Italian regions can hunt. You need a hunting license issued by the police headquarters, but above all you need a hunting license issued only and exclusively to residents of one of the Italian regions ― a mandatory document where you can note the date, place of hunting and quantity of animals killed.' Zanoni wouldn't tell The New York Times how he acquired the footage, which has been reposted by The Guardian. Field Ethos, the lifestyle brand co-founded by Trump, shared a since-deleted trailer for the lagoon footage on Dec. 31, but it does not include scenes of him shooting the ruddy shelduck. It's unclear when the footage was filmed. Zanoni shared on social media that he has reported the incident to the Venice police in charge of wildlife. Luana Zanella, a lawmaker in Italy's parliament, echoed the outrage. 'It is morally despicable,' she told the Times. 'And it's a crime.' Trump is no stranger to hunting scandals. In 2019, a hunting trip he took to Mongolia to kill endangered sheep was estimated to cost American taxpayers around $75,000 in U.S. Secret Service costs ― about $60,000 more than his father's first administration had previously disclosed. Other photos surfaced during that administration that showed Donald Trump's eldest son holding a dead cheetah and a bloody, detached tail of an elephant. During his first term, Donald Trump also reneged on his promise to uphold a ban on elephant trophy imports from Zimbabwe and Zambia. Donald Trump Jr. did not immediately respond to requests for comment sent to him through the Trump Organization. Danish Prime Minister Says Greenland Is 'Not For Sale' As Trump Jr. Visits Donald Trump Jr. Reacts To Kimberly Guilfoyle Ambassador News Amid Breakup Rumors Donald Trump Reportedly Dissed Kristi Noem By Comparing Her With Donald Trump Jr.
Sky News
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Donald Trump Junior accused of killing protected species of duck on hunt in Venice lagoon
An Italian politician has told Sky News he's filed a criminal complaint after Donald Trump Junior allegedly killing a protected species of duck while on a hunting trip in the Venice lagoon. Andrea Zanoni, from the Green Europe party, said he had notified the Carabinieri environmental crime unit in Mestre. He claimed Mr Trump hunted and killed protected species of birds in Campagna Lupia, a town in the province of Venice, last December. "The US president's son killed a protected species in a protected natural area, and this is a serious criminal offence," Mr Zanoni said. "No one should be above the law." Mr Zanoni is currently serving as president of the region of Veneto's justice commission. A spokesman for Mr Trump said his party had permits and were in a legally allowed area. A video posted online and reported by Italian media outlets appears to show Mr Trump Jr shooting at ducks inside a special conservation area south of Venice, and then addressing the camera and pointing to an orange-brown duck among at least six other dead waterfowl around him. The dead birds allegedly included a ruddy shelduck, which is protected by the EU Birds Directive and Italian wildlife protection legislation. In addition, it is thought Mr Trump needed to reside in an Italian region in order to be granted a hunting permit. Veneto imposes a different hunting calendar for each species. Mr Zanoni said he was "100% sure" the Venice Public Prosecutor's Office will soon open a probe into the case. If so, it is thought Donald Trump Jr could face both a jail sentence and a fine. A source close to the investigation told Sky News they are "evaluating" possible crimes following Mr Zanoni's complaint. Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto said he was "waiting for a report". Sergio Costa, a former Italian environment minister, told Sky News he was "horrified" by the case. "It's as if Italy became Trump Junior's backyard," Mr Costa said. "I'll ask the government to report on this and I'm going to file a complaint with the Public Prosecutor's Office," he added. An animal rights NGO, LAV, expressed indignation along with other Italian political parties. Veneto governor Luca Zaia refused to comment on the case. A spokesman for Mr Trump said "there were countless other hunting groups present" while the hunting party had permits and were in a legally allowed area. Andy Surabian added: "While it's unclear whether this single duck was unintentionally shot by someone in Don's hunting group, another hunting group, or killed in a different manner and retrieved by the group's hunting dog, Don takes following all rules, regulations and conservation on his hunts very seriously and plans on fully cooperating with any investigation."
